1997 Pontiac Excitement 400
# 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 2, 1997, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a controversial victory, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to hold off the field on the final restart with three to go, scoring his 47th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Geoff Bodine Racing driver Geoff Bodine and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

In post-race technical inspection, Wallace's engine was found to had failed to "meet compression ratio specifications" according to NASCAR technical inspector Kevin Triplett. At the time, the engine compression ratio was 14:1. On Monday, March 3, NASCAR would run another test. The official test results came to 14.001:1, which while slightly over, was within the guidelines and would allow Wallace to keep his victory.

## Background

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Delco-Remy, Cruisin' America Phone Card |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | QVC |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Melling Racing |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Close Call Phone Card |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar, The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Parts America |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Loy Allen Jr. | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | Child Support Recovery |
| 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | Hardee's |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Camel Cigarettes |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, Scooby-Doo |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | Skittles |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, RC Cola |
| 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | Coors Light |
| 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | BellSouth |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | Hot Wheels |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Federal-Mogul |
| 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | Diamond Rio, Hanes |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | Spam |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | Caterpillar |
| 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | John Deere |
| 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide |

## Qualifying

Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Friday, February 28. However, due to rain, qualifying was cancelled. In 1997, NASCAR rules mandated that the top 33 spots were based on the 1996 owner's points, since the race was in the first four races of the season. The final 10 spots were based on postmarks on the official entry list. As a result, Terry Labonte, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole.

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Billy Standridge, Greg Sacks, and Mike Wallace.

### Full starting lineup

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford |
| 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford |
| 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac |
| 10 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac |
| 12 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford |
| 16 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford |
| 19 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac |
| 20 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford |
| 21 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford |
| 23 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac |
| 24 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac |
| 32 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford |
| Set by time-dated postmarks on entry list |||||
| 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac |
| 38 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 39 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford |
| 41 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet |
| 42 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac |
| 43 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 44 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford |
| 45 | 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford |
| 46 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 135 | running | 180 | $86,775 |
| 2 | 18 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 400 | 18 | running | 175 | $56,875 |
| 3 | 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 172 | running | 175 | $50,750 |
| 4 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 65 | running | 165 | $46,200 |
| 5 | 9 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 399 | 1 | running | 160 | $35,595 |
| 6 | 6 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 150 | $30,770 |
| 7 | 1 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $35,845 |
| 8 | 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 1 | running | 147 | $28,945 |
| 9 | 23 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,745 |
| 10 | 37 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 134 | $18,545 |
| 11 | 21 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $24,345 |
| 12 | 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $24,045 |
| 13 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $23,870 |
| 14 | 12 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $23,670 |
| 15 | 17 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 398 | 8 | running | 123 | $25,330 |
| 16 | 30 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 115 | $16,215 |
| 17 | 33 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,415 |
| 18 | 20 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 109 | $22,265 |
| 19 | 8 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 106 | $27,540 |
| 20 | 16 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 103 | $24,565 |
| 21 | 39 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 100 | $16,965 |
| 22 | 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,840 |
| 23 | 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 94 | $21,665 |
| 24 | 31 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 91 | $14,540 |
| 25 | 4 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 88 | $27,940 |
| 26 | 36 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 85 | $12,265 |
| 27 | 14 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 82 | $21,340 |
| 28 | 24 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 79 | $21,215 |
| 29 | 40 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 76 | $14,190 |
| 30 | 38 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 73 | $11,160 |
| 31 | 22 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 70 | $20,615 |
| 32 | 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 67 | $18,090 |
| 33 | 41 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 64 | $11,075 |
| 34 | 42 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 395 | 0 | running | 61 | $11,065 |
| 35 | 28 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 393 | 0 | running | 58 | $18,065 |
| 36 | 10 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 391 | 0 | crash | 55 | $26,065 |
| 37 | 34 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 391 | 0 | running | 52 | $11,065 |
| 38 | 43 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 389 | 0 | running | 49 | $11,065 |
| 39 | 32 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 380 | 0 | running | 46 | $11,065 |
| 40 | 29 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 376 | 0 | engine | 43 | $18,065 |
| 41 | 35 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 336 | 0 | rear end | 40 | $11,065 |
| 42 | 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 248 | 0 | running | 37 | $19,065 |
| 43 | 19 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 131 | 0 | engine | 34 | $11,965 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
